Pope Francis Cracks Down on Child Abuse in Vatican

Posted on Dec 5, 2013

AP/Riccardo De Luca

That Pope Francis is really on a tear. First he forsakes the luxe lodging and fancy wheels enjoyed by his peers, blasts the Gordon Gekko acolytes whose wanton lust for filthy lucre is plundering the world’s coffers, breaks bread with the homeless and, most tellingly, ticks off Sarah Palin. You’d think his church was founded on the tenets of Jesus or something.

That’s not to say the Holy See’s 266th top banana is completely enlightened, but Pope Francis is taking another step to coax the Catholic Church into at least the 18th century by forming a committee to focus on child sex abuse issues within the church. The archbishop of Boston released word about the task force Thursday. Here’s more from the BBC:

The announcement, by the archbishop of Boston, follows a meeting between the Pope and his eight cardinal advisers.

It comes days after the Vatican refused a UN request for information on alleged abuse by priests, nuns or monks.

One of the main Italian associations of clerical abuse survivors has said it has “little trust” in the Vatican.

Pope Francis has said dealing with sex abuse is vital for the Church’s credibility.

Earlier this week the Pope expressed his compassion for the many victims of sex abuse by priests around the world.